Oklahoma quarterback outlook for 2018 college football season: Is it finally Kyler Murray's time to shine?

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FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2017, file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray (1) carries against UTEP during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla. Murray was a five-star recruit and one of the most celebrated high school players to come out of Texas in recent years. He started three games as a freshman for Texas A&M, but it went sour quickly in College Station and he transferred to Oklahoma. He sat out last season to satisfy NCAA requirements and has spent this season mostly mopping up as Baker Mayfield led No. 2 Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff. âIâm just being patient,â Murray said.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Not only his legendary efficiency, but also his leadership and intangibles that made him one of the most memorable college athletes of the last couple decades.

So who will be charged with replacing a man who will soon have a statue outside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium? Here's what OU's quarterback situation looks like in 2018:

Key returnees: Kyler Murray, junior; Austin Kendall, sophomore

Key losses: Baker Mayfield (Graduated)

Key newcomers: Tanner Mordecai (Class of 2018)

Biggest unanswered question: Who will replace the legendary Baker Mayfield?

There’s no way around it for Oklahoma next season: Replacing a legend like Baker Mayfield will be incredibly difficult. There’s irony in that Kyler Murray, perhaps the greatest Texas high school football player of all time, will be called upon to supplant Mayfield, perhaps the most overlooked Texas high school football player of all time.

The only obvious hiccup to Murray succeeding Mayfield? Murray will continue to pursue his passion for baseball this spring while fighting Austin Kendall for the quarterback job. All indications are that he can do both, but if he decides baseball is his path, he’s eligible for June’s 2018 MLB Draft and could leave the program well before the start of fall camp.

Why 2018 production could be better

Coach Lincoln Riley is going to have a lot of fun with an athlete like Murray. There’s almost no chance Murray will be as efficient passing the ball as Mayfield was, but he certainly can be a better runner. Murray is among the fastest players on the team, and Riley will use that to the Sooners’ advantage in 2018. That’s not to say he won’t pass -- Murray has a big, accurate arm -- but an enhanced quarterback run game is the only path to Murray out producing Mayfield in 2018.

Why 2018 production could be worse

Simply put: Oklahoma is trying to replace arguably the most efficient quarterback in college football history. The last time the Sooners (or any team) took on that challenge, they ended up with Landry Jones succeeding Sam Bradford. It’s hard to imagine two quarterbacks who are more opposite than Jones and Murray, and the systems they will play in will also be very different.

There are two main points to consider here, both of which can be true:

Oklahoma’s 2017 offense was one of the best ever in college football, and it almost certainly will take a step back next season.

Oklahoma’s offense will always be elite with Riley calling plays, and having an exceptional athlete like Murray under center will make the Sooners extremely dangerous on the ground and through the air.

And while Murray’s explosiveness and playmaking ability will be dangerous, don’t expect OU’s offense to be more productive than Mayfield’s 2017 campaign.

Overall thoughts

This will be a quarterback competition likely into the fall, but Murray seems destined to win it over Kendall. His speed was hard enough to keep off the field last season, and now it will become Riley’s No. 1 tool in constructing the Sooners’ new offense. It’s possible Kendall will see the writing on the wall and transfer after spring practice rather than sit behind Murray for two more seasons. The Sooners, needing depth behind Murray in order to execute the quarterback run game, hope that won’t be the case. But with Murray under center, the Sooners will be in good shape for the next two seasons.